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The rise (or not) of Latin alternative music in San Antonio, and early SXSW spillovers

How many times do you have an unknown touring act who sings mostly in Spanish pack back-to-back shows in San Antonio? That’s exactly what happened to La Santa Cecilia at the Mix and Boneshakers a couple weeks ago. The person who brought them here can finally exhale.

“I was a little concerned leading up to the shows,” said the Hickoids’ Jeff Smith, also the man behind Saustex Media. “Having seen them once in LA, I wasn’t worried about their ability to win an audience, but was unsure if folks would come to see them in numbers … I was very happy with the turnout at the Mix and didn’t feel too concerned about Saturday’s show afterwards.”

Just before that show, Mexico’s Julieta Venegas and LA’s Monte Negro had visited. This week we host Kansas City’s Making Movies, as bilingual as they come (check out this week's feature on the band), and they’re even thinking of moving here. Is the Latin alternative scene, huge in Mexico, Argentina, Spain, and Los Angeles, finally developing in San Antonio?

“Not necessarily,” Smith says. “It is still very much an infant, a niche market. `La Santa Cecilia` played one free show and another show with a very inclusive cover (only $6) with a popular local band `Piñata Protest`. A lot of the same people were at both shows. So you’re probably talking a total of maybe 200-250 unique individuals between the two SA shows. Very good for an unknown band, no doubt, but probably not the kind of numbers that will have promoters tripping over each other.”

Meanwhile, the SXSW spillovers are beginning to pile up, and next week we’ll have a comprehensive list (both online and in print). For the time being, check California’s Bare Wires at the Korova (107 E Martin) on Friday, March 11.

San Antonio’s own OBX and Tech-Neek have a double treat on Saturday, March 11. First, they hold a listening party for their Rage CD (read our review) from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Sole Boutique (4025 Broadway). The first five people through the door get a limited-edition poster. The after party will be at the 7th-annual edition of the Clogged Caps International Aerosol Arts Festival, to be held at Tucker’s Kozy Korner (1338 E. Houston). Other bands on the bill include 2Mex and DJ La Jae (from LA), Dance Like Robots, Clemits and Mesanger (Austin), and Presto (from the Scratch DJ Academy in Chicago). The event is 21 and over and you need $5 to get in.

And in not-SXSW-related news, a band that I’ve always wanted to see is back in San Antonio: Austin’s Latin dub/reggae combo Don Chani will play Saturday, March 12, at Rebar (8134 Broadway).